Italian coffee culture

We all know coffee in Italy is a big deal. Espresso is essential to Italians like tea is for the English I’d say.

Most Italians homes have a coffee maker, a Moka, which you better clean as soon as you’re done with it otherwise it’s impossible to do so later on 😂

Espresso is taken in the mornings and most of the time, after lunch. I remember during our family lunches someone at the end would always ask ‘’Chi vuole un caffè?’’ (who wants a coffee?) and not a single person used to say no.

You can see a Moka machine in the photos below. Take a look!

‘I Bar’

First of all, we need to point out that cafes, in Italy, are called ‘bar’. These places offer both hot drinks and alcoholic beverages, along with sweet and savoury snacks, cakes and pastries. Some places will lean more towards being the typical coffee shop others will be a mix of both, depending on the place and town.

Usually, drinking an espresso in Italy is a matter of seconds. You go to the counter, order your coffee and drink it directly at the counter standing up, maybe having a chat with your friends.

The concept of chilling in a coffee shop with a nice cuppa doesn’t really exist for Italians but you might find the odd one that likes doing so.

Also, Italian coffees are pretty small and there are no sizes to choose from, there’s not small, medium or large like you might find in Costa or Starbucks. It was hard for me to get used to the smaller one after having had Costa coffees for a year or so.

Of course, you can find different type of coffees in Italian bars.

Espresso

A single shot of espresso. Usually, this is the go-to coffee for Italians.

Cappuccino

This is my absolute favourite. It’s the perfect ratio of espresso, milk and frothed milk on top, with a little chocolate sprinkle.

Caffè latte

Espresso mixed with a little bit of warm milk.

Caffè macchiato

This literally means ‘stained coffee’. It’s espresso with a drop of milk a little milk foam on top.

Caffè corretto

‘Correct coffee’. An espresso with a shot of liquor, usually grappa but it depends on the region.

Caffè con panna

An espresso with some whipped cream.

Latte macchiato

This is a glass of warm milk with some coffee in it. The difference is between this and the caffè macchiato, is that there’s more milk.

Caffè d’orzo

A barley coffee.

These are the most common coffees you would find in Italy, there’s a lot of other ways to have your coffee too, depending on the region you visit.

But if you go to a bar and ask for ‘un caffè’, no matter where you go, the barista will always give you an espresso.

Make sure to check out the video below to find out about some Italian coffee shop expressions and how to order your coffee in Italian! You’ll be a pro in no time 😎

Can you order a coffee now? I bet you can for sure!

See you soon,

Italian coffee culture